PRINTS SERIES OF BOOKS

Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville

Images of Burlington by Gary Evans

Images of Burlington is the 14th book in the highly popular Prints series of books, providing a nostalgic look back in time with a series of fascinating photographs at what Burlington used to look like - many years ago.

There are photographs of Burlington's downtown core from the 1950s, the long vanished Cedar Springs Ski Club, farmers loading fruit at the old train station, as well as rare photographs of old schools, churches and landmarks long gone.

Images of Burlington is also filled with memories, memories of a different sort of city, when the sounds of the Brant Inn could be heard along the lakeshore, or when traffic crawled along the beach highway, long before the opening of the Skyway Bridge. Plus there is a series of aerial photographs, taken many decades ago, photographs which offer a unique perspective of how Burlington has grown over the years.

There is something very special about Aldershot. It's an area rich in history, and fabled for its market gardens. Its amusement park attracted thousands of visitors.

The waters of the bay were clean, clean enough for a swim on a hot summer's day.It was a small community, growing at a slow pace, maturing year by year, but not caught up in the development crush of nearby communities.

There is a series of aerial shots which show Aldershot of another era, but which help plot its growth into the 21st century. Other photographs offer a rare glimpse at Wabasso Park, with its roller coaster and swimmers enjoying a dip in the cool waters of Burlington Bay.

The Prints of Aldershot is a fascinating rare collection of old photographs, photographs which will stir up a lot of memories.

There is something very special about Oakville, a community nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, a community which was incorporated in 1857, but with roots going back long before then. It's also a community in transition, one which incorporated many smaller communities over the years so that today, while it experiences phenomenal growth, Oakville has retained its quaint charm of another era.

There is a series of photographs taken on Colborne Street - better known today as Lakeshore Road - showing retail establishments long gone as well as other shots of historic houses, the harbors in transition, and Rebecca Street of long, long ago.

A series of aerial photographs, some dating back more than 40 years, provide a different glimpse of Oakville, offering a unique perspective of the downtown core. Then marvel at the old schools, the Middle Road and the bustling community of Palermo, and even an antique car display at the Ford plant.

As you leaf through The Prints of Oakville, an Oakville of another era will come alive, one rich in tradition, one as seen through the eyes of photographers.

When one thinks of the historic cities in this country, it is seldom that the city of Hamilton is on that list, and yet, it is such a historic city.

Few cities in Canada can boast of having an incline railway, whereas Hamilton had two scaling the face of the escarpment. Or a Mountain, which offers panoramic views out over the city.

Then, there's a castle, right at the edge of the bay, and on the other side of the waterway, the Beach Strip community fondly remembered by those who spent time enjoying the amusement park, or the beaches.

But with this history comes nostalgia, longing for the days when the inclines were running, the beaches were swelled with day-trippers, and carnivals were set up in the Market Square.

Prints of the Steel City offers a nostalgic look at Hamilton from back then, a Hamilton fondly remembered through the images of old photographs.

It no longer exists, erased from the landscape with the stroke of a pen, but so many people still have such vivid memories of the old County of Wentworth and its many communities which spread out and surrounded what was in earlier days known as the Head-of-the-Lake.

Wentworth County can trace its roots back to 1816 when it was created as part of the Gore District.

As Hamilton grew - it became a town in 1833, and a city in 1846 - it became the dominant population and commercial centre at the Head of the Lake, and with that came its status as the county seat for the County of Wentworth.

The creation of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth in 1973 could have been the first step towards the loss of identity, but that was not to be despite the loss of some political and administrative independence.

Then, in 2001, with the formation of the new City of Hamilton, Wentworth was no more, as the mega-city swallowed up the entire county becoming indeed a super city.

Today, while the names and identities of the historic communities have been preserved, those living in the former Wentworth County have fond memories.

And yes, they all live in Hamilton today, but try telling that to the loyal residents of those historic communities clustered around the Head of the Lake. For them, they’re still at home in Wentworth County.

Prints Over Hamilton by Gary EvansWhile most photographers have had their feet planted firmly on the ground when taking images of Hamilton, others have sought out a completely different perspective when photographing the city over the years.

Many of these photographers have taken to the sky, taking fascinating photographs looking down on the city.

Most of the photographs in this book were taken by photographers flying high over the city, but others climbed to the top of the old city hall building, or the Pigott building, offering a closer view of the landscape.

There's photographs of Clappison's Corners before traffic lights controlled this busy intersection, the old B-Hive restaurant, bridges, neighbourhoods and old buildings in downtown Hamilton.

Prints Over Hamilton is filled with nostalgia, a book that offers readers a chance to explore the city from a most different perspective.